Labelling plant and method for fixing sleeves around containers

Abstract

The invention relates to a labelling plant and method for containers. Heat shrinkable sleeves are supplied and containers are supplied. A device for arranging the sleeve around the container will arrange the sleeve in a position with respect to the container. In a heat shrink oven the sleeves are fixed to the container forming the label. A conveyor will transport containers from the container supply and sleeves from the sleeve supply into the heat shrink oven. According to the invention a sleeve support will hold one or more sleeves in a predetermined position with respect to the container. The sleeve support comprises a platform supporting a part of a circumferential edge of the sleeve. Further one or at least two sleeve support elements are arranged to abut on an external side of the sleeve and to support the sleeve in an opened state.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A labelling plant for containers comprising:
 a sleeve supply for supplying heat shrinkable sleeves, 
 a container supply, 
 a device for arranging the sleeve around the container, 
 a heat shrink oven for fixing the sleeve to the container, and 
 a conveyor for transporting containers from the container supply and sleeves from the sleeve supply into the heat shrink oven, and 
 a sleeve support for positioning one or more sleeves in a predetermined position with respect to the container, the sleeve support comprising a platform arranged for supporting a part of a circumferential edge of the sleeve and one or at least two sleeve support elements arranged to abut on an external side of the sleeve and to support the sleeve in an opened state, 
 wherein the conveyor is arranged to transport the container, the sleeve arranged around the container and the sleeve support holding the sleeve in the predetermined position with respect to the container into the heat shrink oven. 
 
     
     
       2. Labelling plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve support element comprises a column extending upward from the platform. 
     
     
       3. Labelling plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve support comprises a groove extending along a part of the longitudinal side of the sleeve arranged to prevent rotational moving of the sleeve. 
     
     
       4. Labelling plant according to  claim 3 , wherein the groove is a V-shaped groove directed towards an exterior surface of the sleeve in the predetermined position. 
     
     
       5. Labelling plant according to  claim 3 , wherein the groove is arranged to receive and guide folds of the sleeve and wherein a controller is arranged to supply sleeves from the sleeve supply when folds in the sleeves are aligned with the groove of the sleeve support. 
     
     
       6. Labelling plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the support element has a height with respect to the platform that corresponds with the longitudinal height of the sleeve. 
     
     
       7. A labelling plant for containers comprising:
 a sleeve supply for supplying heat shrinkable sleeves, 
 a container supply, 
 a device for arranging the sleeve around the container, 
 a heat shrink oven for fixing the sleeve to the container, and 
 a conveyor for transporting containers from the container supply and sleeves from the sleeve supply into the heat shrink oven, and 
 a sleeve support for positioning one or more sleeves in a predetermined position with resect to the container, the sleeve support comprising a platform arranged for supporting a part of a circumferential edge of the sleeve and one or at least two sleeve support elements arranged to abut on an external side of the sleeve and to support the sleeve in an opened state, 
 wherein the container has a rim or collar and a top surface of the support element is arranged as support surface for supporting the rim or collar of the container. 
 
     
     
       8. Labelling plant according to  claim 7 , wherein the top surface of the support element has a height with respect to the platform that is larger than the length of the container measured downward from the rim or collar. 
     
     
       9. Labelling plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the container supply is positioned upstream from the sleeve supply, wherein the sleeve supply and device for arranging the sleeve around the container are the same. 
     
     
       10. Labelling plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve supply is positioned upstream from the container supply, wherein the container supply is the device for arranging the sleeve around the container and wherein the container supply is arranged to supply the container in the sleeve in the predetermined position. 
     
     
       11. Labelling plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve supply is connectable to a supply of flattened tubular heat shrinkable foil, the sleeve supply comprising an opening unit for opening the tubular foil, a cutting unit for cutting sleeves from the opened tubular foil and an ejection unit for ejecting the sleeve from the sleeve supply. 
     
     
       12. Labelling plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the container supply is arranged for supplying packaging containers such as cups or the like formed by deep drawing or thermoforming in a clocked manner on a packaging material strip having containers in at least one longitudinal row and having a rim. 
     
     
       13. A labelling plant for containers comprising:
 a sleeve supply for supplying heat shrinkable sleeves, 
 a container supply, 
 a device for arranging the sleeve around the container, 
 a heat shrink oven for fixing the sleeve to the container, and 
 a conveyor for transporting containers from the container supply and sleeves from the sleeve supply into the heat shrink oven, and 
 a sleeve support for positioning one or more sleeves in a predetermined position with respect to the container, the sleeve support comprising
 a platform arranged for supporting a part of a circumferential edge of the sleeve and one or at least two sleeve support elements arranged to abut on an external side of the sleeve and to support the sleeve in an opened state, and 
 multiple pairs of sleeve support elements positioned on opposite sides of a container position, wherein the container positions are arranged according to a predetermined pattern and wherein the sleeve support elements are positioned diagonally with respect to the container positions.